Best paying protective service jobs

The highest-paying occupations in protective service, ranked with median wage weighted heaviest.

How this ranking is scored

score = .70·pay + .10·growth + .10·employment + .10·openings

Each factor is scaled to the strongest occupation on this list, then weighted and summed. Weights differ by list type. Full methodology.

Wages — OEWS May 2025

Growth & openings — EP 2024–34

Rank by Overall score ·Pay ·Growth ·Openings

Compare · management·business and finance·technology

#

Occupation

MEDIAN PAY

P25–P75

Growth

Employed

Open/yr

Score

01

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-1012

$106,040

+2.9%

154,610

10,900

100

02

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers · Postsecondary nondegree award · 33-1021

$93,530

+3.4%

99,140

6,500

88

03

Detectives and Criminal Investigators · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-3021

$93,790

-0.7%

114,430

7,800

86

04

Transit and Railroad Police · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-3052

$90,230

+3.0%

4,390

200

83

05

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-3051

$76,210

+3.1%

670,520

53,700

83

06

Fire Inspectors and Investigators · Postsecondary nondegree award · 33-2021

$75,920

+3.8%

13,800

1,500

72

07

First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-1011

$77,970

-2.8%

53,380

4,300

71

08

First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-1099

$76,400

+1.6%

20,690

2,100

70

09

Fish and Game Wardens · Bachelor's degree · 33-3031

$74,060

-6.0%

5,770

500

66

10

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-2022

$56,870

+14.6%

2,780

300

64

11

Firefighters · Postsecondary nondegree award · 33-2011

$59,280

+3.4%

345,990

27,100

62

12

Security Guards · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-9032

$38,020

+0.4%

1.3M

161,000

61

13

Transportation Security Screeners · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-9093

$66,770

-6.0%

50,290

4,700

61

14

Correctional Officers and Jailers · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-3012

$58,940

-7.8%

380,500

30,100

59

15

First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-1091

$55,940

+2.7%

81,480

7,000

54

16

Private Detectives and Investigators · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-9021

$51,220

+6.0%

35,580

3,900

52

17

Bailiffs · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-3011

$56,600

-2.2%

17,310

1,800

51

18

Animal Control Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-9011

$45,660

+3.9%

12,070

1,300

45

19

Protective Service Workers, All Other · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-9099

$42,540

+2.5%

81,500

23,300

43

20

Parking Enforcement Workers · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-3041

$46,730

-1.5%

9,050

700

42

21

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers · No formal educational credential · 33-9092

$33,580

+5.8%

157,550

42,700

41

22

Crossing Guards and Flaggers · No formal educational credential · 33-9091

$38,100

+3.6%

94,360

18,000

40

23

Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-9031

$43,370

+0.3%

9,520

1,300

39

24

School Bus Monitors · High school diploma or equivalent · 33-9094

$35,100

-2.7%

78,420

12,600

33

All 24 scored occupations shown.

Fastest-growing protective service careers

01 Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists +14.6%

02 Private Detectives and Investigators +6.0%

03 Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers +5.8%

04 Animal Control Workers +3.9%

05 Fire Inspectors and Investigators +3.8%

protective service careers without a four-year degree

01 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $106,040

02 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers $93,530

03 Detectives and Criminal Investigators $93,790

04 Transit and Railroad Police $90,230

05 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,210

Live jobs in protective service

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About protective service careers

How many protective service careers are there?

Jobs.best ranks 24 protective service occupations with published wages, from OEWS May 2025.

What is the highest-paying protective service job?

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, with a national median of $106,040.

Can you enter protective service without a degree?

Yes — 5 of the ranked protective service occupations typically need no four-year degree, including First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives.